Top 5 Burgers in Oakville

For most people I know, burgers make up a major food group (because who doesn't love a good old slab of meat on a grill?!), and Oakville has no shortage of incredible options. While the best backyard gatherings often include an array of selection (skewers, burgers, ribs, wings, legs, breasts, etc.) sometimes it’s better to head to a restaurant, where a bun sandwiching a piece of meat can hit several food groups while simultaneously providing simple culinary pleasure. Plus, someone else does the dishes and cleans up. Here are the top 5 burgers in Oakville.

The simplicity of the Plain Jane burger is something to write home about. The handmade patty was yummy, adorned with lettuce, tomato, red onions, and pickles. The soft bun was thrown onto the grill and tastes fantastic. There's no better test of a burger's worth than eating it plain -- no ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, or other condiments to mask the taste. Naturally, I'll be back for an encore performance.

Seasoned with Middle Eastern spices and served with a special Lebanese twist, this burger was surprisingly delicious. A well-done patty, house-made, was complemented by lettuce, tomato, and garlic sauce (complete with a smiley face!) and a soft sesame-seed bun. The unassuming restaurant in a residential plaza on Pinegrove Rd. is a west-end staple and favourite in Oakville, and now you know they've also got great burgers!

Burgers are a popular item at this Kerr Village pub, which opened in October 2011. Like everything on the menu, they're made in-house. I went with the Chipotle Burger: the 100 per cent all-beef patty, made from ground chuck and brisket, is thick, delicious, and stacked with flavour. (Salt fiends will love the burger, accompanied by hand-cut fries with enormous sea salt crystals). Complete with beans, tomatoes, fresh lettuce, and pickles, tortilla chips add an outstanding crunchy layer. The restaurant offers a great atmosphere with tons of wood and natural light, and is also known for its blue goose quesadilla, lettuce wraps, and salads.

Equal parts sinful and scrumptious, this angus beef burger was the daily special, featuring tomato confit, mushrooms, Swiss cheese, garlic aioli, and mixed greens on a multigrain panini. The first bite had me making sexy eyes at my dining companions, silently imploring them to give it a whirl (we got personal real quick). The combination of flavours was extraordinary and I can only hope this burger is on the menu the next time I go to Stoney's. It’s a keeper!